The ground trembled violently as the Four Dragon Kings emerged from the depths of the sea. Their colossal figures towered over Chentangguan, casting dark shadows that seemed to swallow the entire town. The sea around them churned with fury, and waves as high as mountains crashed against the shore, threatening to engulf everything in their path.
Ao Guang, the Dragon King of the East Sea, led the charge. His eyes glowed with a menacing red light, and his long, white beard whipped in the wind like a serpent. "Chentangguan!" he roared, his voice booming like thunder. "You will pay for what you have done to my kin! Prepare to be destroyed!"
Inside the Li family's ruined residence, Taiyi Zhenren was in a frenzy. He was still trying to figure out how to use the Seven - Colored Lotus to reshape Ne Zha and Ao Bing's bodies, but the approaching threat of the Dragon Kings was like a sword hanging over their heads.
Ne Zha, although his soul was in a fragile state, refused to cower. "I won't let them hurt Chentangguan," he said, his voice firm despite the weakness in his form. "I'll fight them, even if it's the last thing I do."
Ao Bing, who was also determined to make amends for the actions of his kin, nodded in agreement. "I'll fight with you, Ne Zha. We can't let them win."
Taiyi Zhenren looked at the two of them, a mix of pride and worry in his eyes. "You two are still in a vulnerable state. The Dragon Kings are powerful, and we don't know what Shen Gongbao has planned. But... if you're both so determined, I'll do my best to help you."
As the Dragon Kings approached, the townspeople of Chentangguan were in a state of panic. Screams filled the air as people ran for their lives, trying to find shelter from the impending disaster. Li Jing and Lady Yin, who had survived the Heavenly Tribulation, were doing their best to organize the evacuation.
"Everyone, stay calm! Head to the shelters!" Li Jing shouted, his voice hoarse from the effort.
Lady Yin, her eyes filled with worry, looked towards the sky where the Dragon Kings were approaching. "Ne Zha, please be safe," she murmured.
Ne Zha, feeling the fear and despair of the townspeople, took a deep breath. "I'll protect you all. I promise," he said, his eyes filled with a new - found determination.
With that, he and Ao Bing, along with Taiyi Zhenren, flew out to face the Dragon Kings. As they approached, Ao Guang sneered.
"So, you're the little demon and the traitor," he said, looking at Ne Zha and Ao Bing with contempt. "You think you can stop us? You're nothing but weaklings."
Ne Zha glared back at him. "I may be a demon, but I'm not the one who's going to destroy innocent lives. You're the real monster here, Ao Guang!"
Ao Guang roared in anger. "Insolent brat! I'll show you what a real monster can do!"
With that, he unleashed a powerful wave of water towards Ne Zha. Ne Zha, using his remaining spiritual power, created a shield of fire to block the attack. The water and fire collided, creating a cloud of steam that filled the air.
Ao Bing, seeing an opportunity, launched an attack of his own. He summoned a spear of ice and threw it towards Ao Guang. But the Dragon King easily deflected the attack with a wave of his hand.
"You think you can defeat me, boy? You're still a child, and a traitor at that," Ao Guang said, his voice filled with disdain.
Ne Zha and Ao Bing exchanged a look. They knew that they were no match for the Dragon King in their current state. But they also knew that they couldn't give up.
Just then, Taiyi Zhenren stepped forward. "Dragon Kings, this is madness! You're bringing chaos and destruction to innocent people. Is this what you really want?"
Ao Guang turned to Taiyi. "You have no right to lecture me, Taiyi. You and your disciples are the ones who started this. Now, you'll pay the price."
As the stand - off continued, Ne Zha felt a strange sensation. His fear, which had been holding him back, was slowly being replaced by a sense of calm. He realized that the only way to protect Chentangguan and prove himself was to face his fears head - on.
"I'm not afraid of you, Ao Guang," Ne Zha said, his voice steady. "I may be a demon, but I'll never let you hurt these people. I'll fight you until the end."
Ao Guang, surprised by Ne Zha's sudden change in demeanor, hesitated for a moment. But his anger quickly got the better of him. "Then so be it. You'll all die today!"
And with that, the battle between Ne Zha, Ao Bing, and the Four Dragon Kings raged on, with the fate of Chentangguan hanging in the balance. Ne Zha, in the midst of the chaos, was not only fighting against the Dragon Kings but also against his own inner demons. He knew that this was his chance to prove himself, to show the world that he was not just a demon but a hero. And he was determined to succeed, no matter what the cost.